Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;sizzleness purple&#39;

ABSTRACT

A  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Sizzleness Purple’ characterized by its medium size decorative infloresences with elongated quilled purple ray-florets, with a response time of 52 days.

RELATED CULTIVARS

‘Sizzleness Purple’ is related to ‘Sizzleness’ (U.S. Plant patent pending), of which plant it is a color sport.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

‘Sizzleness Purple’ is a product of a breeding and selection program which had the objective of finding color mutants of ‘Sizzleness’. The new plant of the present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of chrysanthemum plant that is a natural occurring sport of a parent chrysanthemum named ‘Sizzleness’. A comparison with parent chrysanthemum ‘Sizzleness’ is also made in this application. The new cultivar was discovered as a whole plant mutation in 2002 by Mark Roland Boeder in a controlled environment (greenhouse) in Rijsenhout, Holland. The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Sizzleness Purple’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in 2002 in Rijsenhout, Holland.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum bearing medium sized decorative blooms with elongated quilled purple ray-florets and a green center.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention of a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum is shown in the accompanying drawings, the color being as nearly true as possible with color photographs of this type.

FIG. 1 shows a plant of the cultivar in full bloom.

FIG. 2 shows the various stages of bloom of the new cultivar.

FIG. 3 shows the foliage of the new cultivar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This new variety of chrysanthemum is of the botanical classification Chrysanthemum morifolium L. The observations and measurements were gathered from plants grown in April/May in a greenhouse in Rijsenhout Holland in a photo-periodic controlled crop under conditions generally used in commercial practice. The greenhouse temperatures during this crop were at day-time between 18° C. and 25° C. and at night 20° C. After a long day period of 14 days the photo-periodic response time in this crop was 52 days. After the long day period to flowering growth retardants were applied 2 to 3 times in an average dose of 2.5 gram/liter water. No tests were done on disease or insect resistance or susceptibility. No tests were done on cold or drought resistance. This new variety produces medium sized blooms with purple ray-florets and blooming on the plant for 5 weeks. This new variety of chrysanthemum has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics throughout successive propagations however the phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as light intensity and temperature. To show the phenotype as described ‘Sizzleness Purple’ can be planted without assimilation lightning (high pressure sodium lamps) between week 1 and week 35 year under greenhouse conditions in Holland. With assimilation light (minimum level 2500 lux) it can be planted year round under greenhouse conditions in Holland.

From the cultivars known to inventor the most similar existing cultivars in comparison to ‘Sizzleness Purple’ is the parent ‘Sizzleness’ and its sports ‘Sizzleness Pink’, and ‘Sizzleness Salmon’. When ‘Sizzleness Purple’, ‘Sizzleness Pink’, ‘Sizzleness Salmon’ and the parent ‘Sizzleness’ are being compared the following differences and similarities are noticed: The difference of ‘Sizzleness’ and its sports ‘Sizzleness Purple’, ‘Sizzleness Pink’ and ‘Sizzleness Salmon’ is (1) Color ray florets. The color is for ‘Sizzleness’ purple and cream, while it is purple for ‘Sizzleness Purple’, pink for ‘Sizzleness Pink’, and dark salmon for ‘Sizzleness Salmon’. For which charecteristic ‘Sizzleness Purple’ has been selected from the original ‘Sizzleness’. All other characteristics of ‘Sizzleness’ and ‘Sizzleness Purple’ are similar.

The following is a description of the plant and characteristics that distinguish ‘Sizzleness Purple’ as a new and distinct variety. The color designations are taken from the plant itself. Accordingly, any discrepancies between the color designations and the colors depicted in the photographs are due to photographic tolerances. The color chart used in this description is: The Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart, edition 1995. TABLE 1 Botanical Description of cultivar ‘Sizzleness Purple’ Bud Size Medium, cross-section 0.5 cm, height 0.5 cm Outside color Yellow 4D Involucral bracts 2 rows, length 7 mm, width 3 mm Involucral bracts among disc-florets Not present Involucral bracts color Green 138B Inflorescence Type Decorative Height 3 cm Size Medium Fully Expanded 5.5-6 cm Peduncle lenght Near the top 6 cm, near the middle 10 cm, near the bottom 14 cm. Peduncle color Green 138B Number of inflorescences per stem Average of 15-20 Performance on the plant 5 weeks Seeds (if crossed) Produced in small quantities, oval shaped, grey-brown 199A, 2 mm in length. Fragrance Typical chrysanthemum Color Center of the flower Immature Yellow-green 145A Mature Yellow-green 154C Color of upper surface of the ray- Upper surface Red-purple 70A florets Lower surface Red-purple 70C Tonality from Distance A spray mum with purple flowers and a green disc Color of the upper surface of the Red-purple 70A ray florets after aging of the plant Ray florets Texture Upper and under side smooth Number 100 Shape Elongated quilled Longitudinal axis of majority Straight Length of corolla tube Long; 1.5 cm Ray-floret margin Entire Ray-floret length 2 cm Ray-floret width 0.2 cm Ratio length/width High Shape of tip Rounded Disc florets Disc diameter 0.8 cm Distribution of disc florets Few, only visible in mature stage of flowering. Shape Tubular Color Yellow-green 154C Receptacle shape Domed raised Reproductive Organs Stamen (present in disc florets only) Thin Stamen color Yellow-green 144B Pollen Produced in small quantity Pollen color Yellow-orange 14A Styles (present in both ray and disc Thick florets) Style color Yellow-green 150C Style Length 4 mm Stigma color Yellow-green 145D Stigma Width 1 mm Ovaries Enclosed in perianth Plant Form A spray mum meant for erect culture Growth habit Upright Growth rate Medium vigor Height 90 cm Width 28 cm Internode lenght 2-3 cm Spray formation Cylindrical Stem Color Yellow-green 148A with streaks of Greyed-red 182C at base Stem Strength Strong Stem Brittleness Not brittle Stem Anthocyanin Coloration Present Flowering Response(photo-periodic 52 Days controlled crop, not natural season) Foliage Color immature stage Upper side Green 141B Under side Green 139C Color mature stage Upper side Green 137A Under side Green 138A Color midvein Upper side Yellow-green 145C Under side Yellow-green 148C Size Medium; length 11-15 cm, width 5-7 cm Quantity (number per single stem) 30-32 Shape Elliptic Texture upper side Fleshy and glabrous Texture under side Pubescent Venation arrangement Palmate Shape of the margin Dentate Shape of Base of Sinus Between Diverging Lateral Lobes Margin of Sinus Between Lateral Rounded Lobes Shape of Base Obtuse to truncate Apex Mucronulate Petiole length 2 cm Petiole color Yellow-green 145C

TABLE 2 Differences with the comparison Varieties ‘Sizzleness ‘Sizzleness ‘Sizzleness Purple’ Pink’ Salmon’ Sizzleness’ Color upper- Red-purple Red-purple Greyed-red Purple-violet side ray- 70A 70B 182B 80C and florets Yellow 4D Color lower Red-purple Red-purple Greyed-red Purple-violet side ray- 70C 70D 182D 80D and florets Yellow 4D 

1. A new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum plant as described and illustrated. 